Ten years ago, I knew almost nothing about homeopathy. To me, it was some kind of herbal medicine that was given in very small doses. I had also read some vague references to the idea that Alike cures like@. I saw the homeopathic remedies on the store shelf and figured that they were the same as the other herbs, vitamins and assorted supplements that sat on the shelf next to them.

One day, my MD=s nurse recommended someone to me, for acupuncture. Little did I know the road I was about to travel, when she casually mentioned that he also practiced homeopathy and asked if that made a difference. I said, ANo@ because I was only interested in pain relief at the time. I had been to acupuncturists before, at a friend=s suggestion, and found it very helpful for my chronic pain. Acupuncture was far superior to the drugs that my MD prescribed.

From my first visit to the homeopath, I was entranced by this totally different type of medicine. It was unlike anything I had ever heard of. I was skeptical but I knew that my MD had little or nothing to offer me for my chronic condition. The homeopath had an incredible breadth of knowledge and was passionate about the art and science of healing. Unlike my MD, he freely gave me as many books as I cared to read about homeopathy. He encouraged my study.

My MD was not impressed by my new interest in an alternative form of medicine. He told me that it was quackery. He said that if I went off the (nine!!) medications that I was on at the time, I was certain to go into crisis. He refused to continue seeing me, if I was going back to the homeopathic physician. I stopped seeing the MD but occasionally speak to him and report on my progress. The fact that I am taking no medication, five years later, caused him to say that my diagnosis must have been incorrect!

I have had other unpleasant experiences with MD=s, when I mention homeopathy. One female doctor started stridently lecturing me about how vaccinations have saved so many babies. I had not even brought up the subject of vaccinations. Another MD tried to save me from my naïveté by telling me that it is common for people with chronic conditions to be taken in by charlatans.

Dealing with people who know nothing about homeopathy is always an interesting adventure. Some of them have heard of the Law of Similars but they assume that it means that you give homeopathic bee venom to everyone who is allergic to bee stings and Lyssinum to dogs that contract rabies. Other people just assume that homeopathic medicines are standard herbal preparations. They want to take homeopathic St John=s wort for their depression and homeopathic Echinacea for their colds.

Sometimes people start arguing that homeopathy relies on the placebo effect. They explain that homeopathic medicines are just sugar pills. Of course, these people have never had an aggravation from taking some of these Asugar pills@. They have never seen deep healing in a child, who couldn't possibly know what the remedy was supposed to do. They still insist that it must be due to Acoincidence@ or a Aspontaneous remission@. Why is it that the MD could not induce such a healing?